REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

 A refrigerator comprising a main body (10) having a front side and a rear side, a storage chamber provided in the main body and having an opening at the front side of the main body, and a sliding door for opening or closing the opening of the storage chamber. A storage basket (200) is provided to be drawn into or out of the storage chamber by being moved together with the sliding door, wherein the storage basket has first and second side walls (250a,b) each having a coupling surface (280) facing down and a protrusion (281) protruding from the coupling surface. In addition, first and second rail units (310) each disposed between the storage basket and the main body and supporting the sliding door, the first and second rail unit each having a hole (451) into which the protrusions (281) of the first and second side walls of the storage basket are inserted to restrict a movement of the storage basket with respect to each of the first and second rail unit.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a refrigerator including a sliding door configured to open and close a storage chamber and a storage basket provided on a rear portion of the sliding door.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that includes a storage chamber for storing food and a cold air supply device to supply cold air to the storage chamber to keep food fresh.

[0003] The storage chamber includes an opened front portion so that food is put in and taken out of the storage chamber, and the opened front portion of the storage chamber is opened or closed by a rotary door hinge-coupled to a main body or sliding door slidably movable from/to the main body.

[0004] In general, a storage basket to store food is provided on a rear portion of the sliding door. In addition, a support frame is coupled to upper portions of both sidewalls of the storage basket, and the storage basket is movably supported by the support frame so as to be drawn into the storage chamber or drawn to the outside of the storage chamber. However, according to these conventional technologies, an empty space between lower portions of both sidewalls of the storage basket and an inner case is created.

SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide, in a refrigerator including a sliding door, a storage basket that is provided on a rear surface of the sliding door, and a support frame that is coupled to an inner case and movably supports the sliding door and the storage basket, a structure of the storage basket and the support frame that can expand a storage space of the storage basket.

[0006] In addition, it is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a coupling structure of a sliding door and a support frame that can increase a coupling force between the sliding door and the support frame.

[0007] In addition, it is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide, in a refrigerator including an auxiliary basket supported by a storage basket, a structure of the storage basket and the auxiliary basket in which the auxiliary basket can be operated in conjunction with an operation of the storage basket.

[0008] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

[0009] In accordance with the present disclosure, a refrigerator is disclosed comprising a main body having a front side and a rear side, a storage chamber provided in the main body and having an opening at the front side of the main body, and a sliding door for opening or closing the opening of the storage chamber. A storage basket is provided to be drawn into or out of the storage chamber by being moved together with the sliding door, wherein the storage basket has first and second side walls each having a coupling surface facing down and a protrusion protruding from the coupling surface. In addition, first and second rail units each disposed between the storage basket and the main body and supporting the sliding door, the first and second rail unit each having a hole into which the protrusions of the first and second side walls of the storage basket are inserted to restrict a movement of the storage basket with respect to each of the first and second rail unit.

[0010] The first and second rail units support the storage basket by supporting the coupling surface of the first side wall and the coupling surface of the second side wall, respectively.

[0011] An inner surface of the first side wall and an inner surface of the second side wall may define sides of the storage space of the storage basket.

[0012] A rear reinforcing frame extending between a rear portion of the first rail unit and a rear portion of the second rail unit, a connection bar extending between the first and second rail units; a first pinion gear coupled to the connection bar and engaged with the first rail unit; and a second pinion gear coupled to the connection bar and engaged with the second rail unit may be further provided.

[0013] The rear reinforcing frame may be coupled to the rear portion of the first rail unit and to the rear portion of the second rail unit.

[0014] The refrigerator may further comprise a front reinforcing frame extending between a front portion of the first rail unit and a front portion of the second rail unit.

[0015] The main body may include an inner case and an outer case, and the first and second rail units are each disposed between the storage basket and the inner case and extend in a front-rear direction of the main body.

[0016] The first rail unit and the second rail unit may each include a cover rail and a sliding rail movably disposed between the cover rail and the inner case. The connection bar may be coupled to the sliding rail of the first rail unit and the sliding rail of the second rail unit, and the rear reinforcing frame may be coupled to the cover rail of the first rail unit and the cover rail of the second rail unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage basket and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage basket and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a coupling relationship between a sliding door and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a rail unit of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main body 10, storage chambers 50 and 60 that are formed inside the main body 10, an ice-making chamber 70, and a cold air supply device that supplies cold air to the one or more storage chambers 50 and 60 and the ice-making chamber 70.

[0021] The main body 10 includes an inner case 20 that forms the storage chambers 50 and 60 and the ice-making chamber 70, an outer case 30 that is coupled to an outer portion of the inner case 20 and forms an appearance of the refrigerator, and a heat insulating material 40 of the main body 10 that is foamed between the inner case 20 and the outer case 30.

[0022] The storage chambers 50 and 60 include a refrigerating chamber 50 on the upper portion and a freezing chamber 60 on the lower portion, and the storage chambers 50 and 60 include an opened front portion. A shelf 51 on which food is placed may be disposed inside the refrigerating chamber 50. However, a location and a number of storage chambers are not limited thereto. For example, the refrigerator may include at least one storage chamber, and the freezing chamber may be installed in the upper portion of the refrigerator and the refrigerating chamber may be provided in the lower portion of the refrigerator.

[0023] The opened front portion of the refrigerating chamber 50 may be opened and closed by a plurality of doors 80 and 81 which are hinge-coupled to the main body 10 so as to be rotated, and the opened front portion of the freezing chamber 60 may be opened and closed by a sliding door 82 that is slidably movable from/to the main body 10. Handles 80a and 82a may be respectively provided in the doors 80, 81, and 82. The refrigerator may the refrigerating chamber opened and closed by the sliding door or the freezing chamber opened and closed by the rotating doors.

[0024] A dispenser 90 through which water or ice inside the refrigerator may be taken out even without opening the doors 80 and 81 may be provided in any one of the plurality of doors 80 and 81.

[0025] The dispenser 90 may include a guide passage 91 that guides ice discharged from an ice discharging port 121 of an ice bucket 120 to the outside, a take-out space 92 in which a vessel such as a cup is put to receive water or ice, and an operating lever 93 through which water or ice can be taken out.

[0026] The ice-making chamber 70 may be formed in a corner of an upper portion of the inner case 20. The ice-making chamber 70 may be formed between the inner case 20 of the ice-making chamber 70 and a case 100 of the ice-making chamber 70 coupled on an inner portion of the inner case 20.

[0027] In the ice-making chamber 70, an ice-making tray 110 to which water is fed to create ice, an ejector 111 that moves the ice created in the ice-making tray 110, an ice bucket 120 that stores the ice moved from the ice-making tray 110, a drain duct 112 that collects defrost water of the ice-making tray 110, and a blower fan 123 of the ice-making chamber that forcibly causes air inside the ice-making chamber 70 to flow may be provided.

[0028] In addition, a part of a refrigerant tube 130 may be inserted into the ice-making chamber 70 so that cold air is directly created by the ice-making chamber 70, and a heat insulating material 113 of the refrigerant tube 130 may be coupled to the refrigerant tube 130 so as to prevent implantation due to a temperature difference with ambient air.

[0029] The cold air supply device may include a compressor 131 that compresses refrigerant, a condenser 132 that condenses refrigerant, a flow passage switching valve 133 that switches a flow passage of refrigerant, expanding devices 134 and 135 that expand refrigerant, evaporators 140 and 150 that evaporate refrigerant to create cold air, and blower fans 141 and 151 that cause cold air to flow. The compressor 131 and the condenser 132 may be included in a mechanical chamber 71 provided in the lower portion of the refrigerator.

[0030] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a storage basket 200 that is slidably drawn into and out of the freezing chamber 60, a support frame 300 that movably supports the sliding door 82 and the storage basket 200, and an auxiliary basket 400 that is slidably drawn into and out on an upper portion of the storage basket 200 of the freezing chamber 60. A structure of each of the storage basket 200 and the support frame 300 will be described later.

[0031] In the auxiliary basket 400, a first roller 401 configured to perform a rolling motion on the storage basket 200 may be provided. Here, the storage basket 200 may include a roller support surface 290 that supports the first roller 401 configured to perform the rolling motion, and a front protrusion 291, an auxiliary protrusion 292, and a rear protrusion 293 that respectively protrude upward from the roller support surface 290 so that a position of the auxiliary basket 400 is limited by pressurizing the first roller 401. The front protrusion 291, the auxiliary protrusion 292, and the rear protrusion 293 of the storage basket 200 will be described later.

[0032] In addition, in the auxiliary basket 400, a sliding protrusion 402 that protrudes toward sides may be formed. The sliding protrusion 402 may be slidably supported by a support protrusion 21 formed on an inner portion of the inner case 20.

[0033] A handle 403 may be provided in the auxiliary basket 400, so that the auxiliary basket 400 may be drawn out forward or drawn in backward while a user grasps the handle 403.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage basket and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage basket and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a view showing coupling relationship between a sliding door and a support frame of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a rail unit of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the storage basket 200 of the refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a storage space 210 that may store food. An upper surface of the storage basket 200 may be opened, and food may be put in and taken out of the storage space 210 through the opened upper portion. In addition, the storage basket 200 has a front wall 220, a rear wall 230, both sidewalls 250a and 250b, and a bottom wall 240.

[0036] In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the both sidewalls 250a and 250b of the storage basket 200 include a first wall 260 on a lower portion, a second wall 270 that protrudes outwardly from the first wall 260, and a coupling wall 280 that connects the first wall 260 and the second wall 270 and is approximately horizontally formed. Here, a vertical length L1 of the first wall 260 is formed to be smaller than a vertical length L2 of the second wall 270. Rail units 310 and 320 of the support frame 300 may be disposed between the first wall 260 and the inner case 20. The lengths of the first wall 260 and the coupling wall 280 may have a predetermined length to accommodate the support frame 300 so that the storage basket 200 may be drawn into and out of the freezing chamber 200. In other words, based on the size of the support frame 300, the lengths the first wall 260 and the coupling wall 280 may be changed accordingly to accommodate the support frame 300. The length of second wall may be proportionally changed based on the changes in the length of the first wall 260.

[0037] By the above-described structure, the storage basket 200 of the refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure has a wider storage space 210 than the conventional storage basket having a flat sidewall.

[0038] The storage basket 200 may be supported by the support frame 300 in such a manner that a coupling wall 280 formed between the first wall 260 and the second wall 270 is placed on a storage basket support surface 451 of the support frame 300.

[0039] Here, a coupling protrusion 281 that protrudes downward may be formed in the coupling wall 280 of the storage basket 200, and a coupling hole 452 to which the coupling protrusion 281 is inserted may be formed in the support frame 300. Accordingly, the coupling protrusion 281 may be inserted into the coupling hole 452, so that the storage basket 200 may be fixed to the support frame 300.

[0040] In an upper portion of the storage basket 200, the roller support surface 290 through which the first roller 401 of the auxiliary basket 400 is supported, a roller support guide 295 that guides the movement of the first roller 401, the front protrusion 291 that protrudes upward from the front portion of the roller support surface 290, the rear protrusion 293 that protrudes upward from the rear portion of the roller support surface 290, the auxiliary protrusion 292 that protrudes upward between the front protrusion 291 and the rear protrusion 293 of the roller support surface 290, and a second roller 294 that is coupled with a rear surface of the auxiliary basket 400 so as to perform a rolling motion.

[0041] The front protrusion 291 may act as a front stopper that limits a forward relative position of the auxiliary basket 400 with respect to the storage basket 200, and the rear protrusion 293 may act as a rear stopper that limits a rearward relative position of the auxiliary basket 400 with respect to the storage basket 200. Accordingly, each of the front protrusion 291 and the rear protrusion 293 is preferably formed to have a predetermined height so that the first roller 401 is not moved over the front protrusion 291 and the rear protrusion 293.

[0042] The front protrusion 291 may pressurize the first roller 401 so that the storage basket 200 is drawn in together with the auxiliary basket 400 in conjunction with the auxiliary basket 400.

[0043] The auxiliary protrusion 292 may be formed so as to be close to the front protrusion 291 between the front protrusion 291 and the rear protrusion 293. A roller housing unit 296 in which the first roller 401 is housed may be formed between the front protrusion 291 and the auxiliary protrusion 292, and the auxiliary basket 400 may not be relatively moved to the storage basket 200 when force is not directly applied to the auxiliary basket 400 in a state in which the first roller 401 is housed in the roller housing unit 296.

[0044] Accordingly, when the storage basket 200 is drawn out while the first roller 401 is housed in the roller housing unit 296, the auxiliary protrusion 292 may pressurize the first roller 401, and the auxiliary basket 400 may be drawn out together with the storage basket 200.

[0045] As described above, when the storage basket 200 is drawn in while the first roller 401 is housed in the roller housing unit 296, the front protrusion 291 may pressurize the first roller 401, and the auxiliary basket 400 may be drawn in together with the storage basket 200.

[0046] The auxiliary protrusion 292 may be formed to have a slightly lower height than the front protrusion 291 and the rear protrusion 293 so that the first roller 401 may be moved over the auxiliary protrusion 292.

[0047] Accordingly, when the auxiliary basket 400 is drawn in by directly applying force to the auxiliary basket 400 in a state in which the first roller 401 is housed in the roller housing unit 296, the first roller 401 may be moved over the auxiliary protrusion 292, and only the auxiliary basket 400 may be drawn in while the storage basket 200 is not moved.

[0048] The support frame 300 includes left and right rail units 310 and 320 that are respectively coupled to the inner case 20, a rear reinforcing frame 330 that connects a rear portion of the left rail unit 310 and a rear portion of the right rail unit 320, and a front reinforcing frame 340 that connects a front portion of the left rail unit 310 and a front portion of the right rail unit 320.

[0049] The rear and front reinforcing frames 330 and 340 may prevent distortion of the left and right rail units 310 and 320.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, each of the left and right rail units 310 and 320 (only left rail unit 310 is shown) may include a first cover rail 410 that is fixedly coupled to the inner case 20, a first sliding rail 420 that is fixedly coupled to the first cover rail 410, a second sliding rail 430 that is movably coupled to the first sliding rail 420, a third sliding rail 440 that is movably coupled to the second sliding rail 430, a second cover rail 450 that is fixedly coupled to the third sliding rail 440, the sliding door 82, and the storage basket 200, a first sliding assisting member 460 that is disposed between the first sliding rail 420 and the second sliding rail 430 and has a ball member 461, and a second sliding assisting member 470 that is disposed between the second sliding rail 430 and the third sliding rail 440 and has a ball member 471.

[0051] A rack gear 411 may be formed in the first cover rail 410, and a pinion gear 481 that is engaged with the rack gear 411 may be coupled to the third sliding rail 440. The pinion gear 481 may be coupled to a connection bar 480 that is rotatably coupled to a connection bar receiving part 441 of the third sliding rail 440.

[0052] The above-described rear and front reinforcing frames 330 and 340 may be coupled to the second cover rail 450 to which the sliding door 82 and the storage basket 200 are coupled.

[0053] In addition, the above-described coupling hole 452 and storage basket support surface 451 may also be formed in the second cover rail 450.

[0054] The refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a coupling bracket 500 that enables the sliding door 82 and the support frame 300 to be coupled with each other.

[0055] The coupling bracket 500 may include a first coupling unit 520 coupled with a rear surface 83 of the sliding door 82, second coupling units 510a and 510b coupled with the second cover rail 450 of the support frame 300, and a reinforcing unit 530 that connects the first coupling unit 520 and the second coupling units 510a and 510b to reinforce rigidity of the coupling bracket 500.

[0056] The reinforcing unit 530 may be provided to have a plate shape that is approximately perpendicularly disposed, and a longitudinal length L3 of the reinforcing unit 530 may be increased toward a lower portion thereof.

[0057] By this structure, the support frame 300 coupled to a lower portion of the sliding door 82 may be prevented from being spread out from the sliding door 82 or fallen behind the sliding door 82, and may be firmly coupled to the sliding door 82.

[0058] As described above, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the lower wall in which the support frame is disposed among the sidewalls of the storage basket protrudes inward, and the upper wall in which the support frame is not disposed protrudes outward, and therefore an inner storage space of the storage basket may be expanded.

[0059] In addition, the coupling bracket that enables the sliding door and the support frame to be coupled with each other includes the first coupling unit that is coupled with the sliding door, the second coupling unit that is coupled with the support frame, and the reinforcing unit that connects the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit, and therefore a coupling force between the sliding door and the support frame may be strengthened.

[0060] In addition, the front protrusion, the rear protrusion, and the auxiliary protrusion are provided in the storage basket, and therefore the auxiliary basket may be moved in conjunction with the movement of the storage basket.

[0061] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body (10) having a front side and a rear side;

a storage chamber (50, 60) provided in the main body and having an opening at the front side of the main body;

a sliding door (82) for opening or closing the opening of the storage chamber;

a storage basket (200) to be drawn into or out of the storage chamber by being moved together with the sliding door, the storage basket having first and second side walls (250a,b) each having a coupling surface (280) facing down and a protrusion (281) protruding from the coupling surface; and

first and second rail units (310) each disposed between the storage basket and the main body and supporting the sliding door, the first and second rail unit each having a hole (451) into which the protrusions (281) of the first and second side walls of the storage basket are inserted to restrict a movement of the storage basket with respect to each of the first and second rail unit.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rail units support the storage basket by supporting the coupling surface of the first side wall and the coupling surface of the second side wall, respectively.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner surface of the first side wall and an inner surface of the second side wall define sides of the storage space of the storage basket.

4. The refrigerator according to any one of the previous claims, wherein
a rear reinforcing frame (330) extending between a rear portion of the first rail unit (310) and a rear portion of the second rail unit (320);
a connection bar (480) extending between the first and second rail units (310, 320);
a first pinion gear (481) coupled to the connection bar (480) and engaged with the first rail unit (310); and
a second pinion gear coupled to the connection bar (480) and engaged with the second rail unit (320).

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the rear reinforcing frame (330) is coupled to the rear portion of the first rail unit (310) and to the rear portion of the second rail unit (320).

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a front reinforcing frame (340) extending between a front portion of the first rail unit (310) and a front portion of the second rail unit (320).

7. The refrigerator according to any one of the previous claims 4 to 6, wherein
the main body (10) includes an inner case (20) and an outer case (30), and
the first and second rail units (310, 320) are each disposed between the storage basket (200) and the inner case (20) and extend in a front-rear direction of the main body (10).

8. The refrigerator according to any one of the previous claims 4 to 7, wherein
the first rail unit (310) and the second rail unit (320) each includes a cover rail (410, 450) and a sliding rail (420, 440) movably disposed between the cover rail and the inner case,
the connection bar (480) is coupled to the sliding rail (420) of the first rail unit (310) and the sliding rail (440) of the second rail unit (320), and
the rear reinforcing frame (330) is coupled to the cover rail (410) of the first rail unit (310) and the cover rail (450) of the second rail unit (320).

Drawing